Centrifugal governor.



1.1. HERZOG & W. M. MEDLOCK. CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2. 1917.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918 in r mm) nlll Z" l 5/ r ly 2' 6 1 I," 5 k 7/ z? I ?4 I 1 g I 7* i 4; /-Z' WITNESSES d/lg/nvroes M 0.90% 77206- /{f M hhLT gR/W M504 Uis-rTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, JOSEPH JOHN HERZOG AND WALTER MARTIN MEDLOCK, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

CENTRIFUG AL GOVERNOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Application filed April 2, 1917. Serial No. 159,319.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH JoHN HER- zoo and WALTER MARTIN MEDLooK, citizens .centrifugal governors, and consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.'

This application is a continuation in part of a' prior application, Serial No. 63216, filed Nov. 24, 1915, said application being for an automatic spark timer. for internal combustion engines, of which the governor, which forms the subject of the present invention was a part.

An object of the invention is to provide a new form of centrifugal governor in which the force exerted by the centrifugal members may be transmitted to a movable part in almost any ratio, depending upon the construction of certain cam portions of the centrifugal members.

A further object of our invention is to provide a centrifugal governor which is more readily controlled and whose action is more steady than governors of the existing types.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features'of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showmg one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the centrifugal governor.

Fig. 3 is a section on the hue 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modlfied form of the device.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4, we

have shown therein a form of the device The other figures of the drawing represent a modified form, but which is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 4, 5 represents a casing which incloses a plate 12. Carried by the plate are the pivot pins 21 and 22. Upon the former is pivotally mounted a centrifugal member 23, While a similar centrifugal member 24 is mounted on the pin 22. Each of these centrifugal members 23 and 24 is provided with a cam surface arranged to engage the bar or lever 15. The contours of these cam surfaces are precisely the same, and a description of one will suffice for both. The cam surface of the centrifugal member 23 is curved, as shown at 23* on a curve which is 1 make and break wheel 18, for a vancing orretarding the latter.

The preferred form of the device is set forth in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. in which 1 is a. shaft having a gear 2, or other suitable driving mechanism. Secured to the shaft is a plate 3. having pins 4 and 6, upon which the centrifugal members 7 and 8 respectively, are pivoted.

The plate 3 is secured to the shaft by means of a set screw 9 or in any other suitable manner, see Fig. 3. In this particular instance the shaft 1 has a reduced extension 1 upon which is mounted a rotatable sleeve 10, having secured to it a collar 11, which is provided with extensions 12. The sleeve 10 is provided with laterally extending integral portions 13. The members 10 to 13. inclusive. constitute a lever of the first class.

' The centrifugal members 7 and 8 are provided with cam surfaces 7 and 8* res cctively, which are arranged to engage the extensions 13. Springs 25 are connected to the ends of the extensions 13 and to the posts or pins 4 and 6, respectively. The operation of this form of the device is the same as that set forth in Fig. 4. The speed of the shaft 1 will cause the centrifugal members to swing downwardly on their pivots 4 and 6, and the cam surfaces 7- and 8 will bear 011 the extensions 13, which it will be observed are equivalent to the lever 15 in Fig. 4. This will turn the sleeve 10 and the turning of the latter may operate any movable part such as regulating a valve, advancing the sparking mechanism in an internal combustion engine or for any purpose where a governor may be used. 7

A device of thiskind-hasa'very decided advantage over the ordinary governor. The latter generally has heavy springs which are necessary to ofier the desired resistance to the centrifugal members at high speed. The action of the ordinary governor is like an attempt to move a heavy block on a smooth surface, with a free hand for a small distance. The inertia of the block tends to make it start hard, but when it is once started it will move suddenly and without control. On the other hand with the present governor the centrifugal members are always under control due to the fact that the centrifugal members are acting on opposite sides of the central pivot of a common lever.

Moreover, applicants device is exceedingly sensitive. It may be here stated that the trouble with governors, especially those used in connection with automatic spark timers, is that at low speed they will not move. in proportion to the speed, while at high speed the movement is greater due to the momentum which the centrifugal dev ces have acquired. Now, in the present devlce, the cam has its greatest leverage while the lever arm is longest, thus, there is comparably great force acting on a long arm so that the starting of the centrifugal member when the speed is low, is easlly accomplished. Now, as the speed gets greater, the point of engagement of the centrifugal device with the lever shifts toward the pivot of the lever; that is to say, the lever arm of the centrifugal device then becomes longer, while the lever arm of the lever itself is shorter. The cam curve, of course, can be made so as to cause just the movement which is necessary in shifting the fast lever in proportion to the speed of the vehicle.

The fact that the centrifugal devices respond immediately to the increased speed and that they are always under control, permits the governor to be, used in connection with speedometers or other devices requiring extreme accuracy.

bers having a cam surface arranged to engage one side of said lever the point of engagement shifting toward the pivotal point of the lever as the speed increases and spring connections between said lever and said plate for returning said lever to its normal position of rest.

2. In a governor, a shaft, a plate rigidly secured to said shaft, said shaft extending through the center of the plate, a lever pivotally mounted on said shaft, a pair of centrifugal members pivotally mounted on said plate, each of said centrifugal members having a cam surface arranged to engage one side of said lever near the end thereof, the point of engagement shifting toward the pivotal point of the lever and away from the pivotal point of the cam as the speed increases, .and spring connections between the said lever and said plate for returning said lever to its normal position of rest.

'3. A centrifugal governor comprising a shaft, a circular plate rigidly mounted upon said shaft at the center of the plate, said circular plate having pins projecting from one'side thereof, a pair of centrifugal members pivotally mounted on said pins, a lever pivotally mounted on the shaft in close proximity to said plate, said centrifugal members having cam surfaces arranged to engage the lever at points near the opposite ends, the point of engagement shifting toward the pivotal point of the lever and away from the pivotal point of the cam as the speed increases, a sleeve connected with said lever for rotation on said shaft, extensions rigidly carried by said sleeve on opposite sides of the shaft, and a spring connected with the pivot pin of each of said centrifugal devices, and having connection with the extensions on said sleeve.

4. In a governor, a shaft, a plate rigidly secured to said shaft, said shaft extending through the center of the plate, a lever pivotally mounted on said shaft, a pair of centrifugal members pivotally mounted on said plate, each of said centrifugal members emme through the center of the plate, a lever creases, and means for returning the Kama pivotally mounted on said shaft, a pair of to its normal position of rest. centrifugal members pivotally mounted on Mobile, Ala, March 24th., 1917.

said plate, each of said centrifugal members JOSEPH J OHN ERZOG, having a cam surface arranged to engage WALTER MAR IN MEDLOCK. a side of said lever near the end thereof, Witnesses:

the point of engagement shifting toward the S. G. LEMBURGER, J12,

pivotal point of the lever as the speed in- 1. O. Swim, Jr. 

